TU to use same search firm that helped with Frank Haith hiring

The Chicago-based company helped the school in hiring Haith.

By Kelly Hines

To fill its football coach opening, the University of Tulsa will use the same search firm that helped with the hiring of basketball coach Frank Haith in April, a university spokesman said Tuesday.

Chicago-based DHR International, one of the largest search firms in the country, will be responsible for developing a short list of candidates.

Executive vice president and sports-practice head Glenn Sugiyama, whom Forbes Magazine has labeled “one of the most influential men in college athletics,” connected Haith with TU, as well as Jim Harbaugh with Stanford, Randy Edsall with Maryland and Charlie Weis with Kansas.

“Glenn is one of the best in the business, and I would never embark on a search like this without having a person like that involved,” TU athletic director Derrick Gragg said at Haith’s introductory news conference. “He’s very good at what he does, has a lot of connections, and his relationships, they run deep, so I appreciate that.”

With a four-year record of 24-27, coach Bill Blankenship was fired Monday morning following a 2-10 season that ended Friday night with a home loss to East Carolina. Gragg said TU hoped to have a replacement by Christmas.

The ideal candidate will have “a lot of experience on the college level” as a coordinator or head coach, Gragg said.

During his weekly radio segment with KTBZ am1430 on Tuesday afternoon, Gragg said the university has received heavy interest regarding the opening and an interview with a potential hire already has been scheduled.